Ignition device



E. C WAMELINK.

IGNITION DEVICE Feb, 1, 1936:.

Filed Feb. 18, 1935 Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED TAT 5% T QFFIQEThisinvention relates to ignition devices,.particularly adapted for usein connection with internal combustion engines.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a spark plug having apair of electrodes capable of being adjusted with respect to each otherto prevent fouling and pitting resulting from arcing from interferingwith the operation of the device as an ignition sparker for internalcombustion engines.

Afurther object of this invention is to providea spark plug for aninternal combustion engine of the above mentioned character having meansassociated therewith for indicating the relative position of oneelectrode to the other after the device has been inserted in the upperwall of an internal combustion engine cylinder.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide a sparking device forinternal combustion engines including a vertical electrode having acone- :shapedgapping point to which is presented at an angle a secondelectrode having a bevelled end surface .correspondingin angularity tothe coneshaped gapping member.

A further object of this invention is to provide inflatingmeansassociated with the vertical electrodes to prevent short circuiting andthe resultant lossof high tension current should the associated partsbecome wet or moistened.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description forming a part of thisspecification and in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention illustrating the manner inwhich one of the electrodes is presented to the other electrode in thetop wall of an engine cylinder;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the verticalelectrode as positioned in the top wall of the cylinder and showing theadjustable electrodes for compensating for the wear upon the electrodesurfaces;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFigure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating theinflating member for the central vertical electrode and illustrating themanner in which the parts are associated;

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the adjustable electrodes,showing the same removed from the engine head cylinder for the purposeof more clearly illustrating the invention; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the face member intended to center thevertical electrode within its seat in the internal combustion enginehead.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustrating the inventionand wherein like reference characters will be employed to designate likeparts throughout the same, the reference character 5 will generally beemployed to designate a fragmentary portion of an internal combustionengine head having a vertical bore 6 enlarged and threaded as at l andterminating in the lower portion in a counter-sunk bevelled edge 8.

The invention comprises a sparking device adapted to be associated withthe ignition system of a motor vehicle and includes an insulator plug 9which is formed preferably round in cross section and is provided with atapered portion Ill adapted to be seated upon the bevelled portion 8 ofthe opening 6 and said bevelled portion Ill terminates in a downwardlyextending tapered portion ll extending well into the cylinder of theinternal combustion engine. Interposed between the bevelled counter-sunkportion 8 of the opening 6 and the correspondingly shaped portion 50 ofthe insulator plug 9 is a washer H2 in order to adequately seal thecylinder against compression losses.

Embedded within the lower tapered portion ll of the insulator plug 3 isa rod it, the lower end of which is tapered outwardly as at M to form acone-shaped sparking surface for the purpose of igniting the combustiblefuel entering the internal combustion engine cylinder.

Also embedded in the insulator plug 8 in the upper end thereof is aterminal rod I5 having formed in the lower end thereof a bore l6 forreceiving the upper end of the rod I3 in electrical contact fashion. Theopposite end of the terminal rod is screw threaded as at H for thereception of ignition wires and thumb nuts commonly employed inconnection with sparking devices.

Downwardly extending bores l8 are formed in the upper end of theinsulator plug 9 at diametrically opposite points for the insertion of asuitable tool such as a metal punch when it is desired to rotate theplug 9 and bring different contact faces of the conical gap member l4into operation, and may also allow ventilation.

Bracing means is provided for reinforcing the terminal rod l5 andcomprises a collar 20 of insulating material to which may be secured astudded portion 2i having downwardly extending legs 22 connecting anoutwardly flared connecting ring 23. It will be noted that the outwardlyflared connecting ring 23 is of the same configuration and shape as thetop portion of the insulator plug 9 whereby the collar 20 may be sliddownwardly upon the terminal rod 15 until the outwardly flared portion23 engages the top surface of the insulator plug 9 in order that anexternally screw threaded nut 24 may be threaded into the screw threadedopening 1 in the engine head cylinder 5 whereby the flanged portion 25of the externally screw threaded nut 24 may engage the outwardly flaredring 23 and securely clamp the insulator plug 9 and reinforcing memberin place, within the opening 6.

Formed adjacent to and angularly with respect to the opening 6 is ascrew threaded bore 21 in which is adapted to be mounted a screwthreaded rod 28 having formed in the upper end thereof a screw driverreceiving kerf 29 and a bevelled edge or top wall 30. The lower end ofthe screw threaded rod 28 is provided with a hardened steel tip 3| whichhas its upper end embedded in the screw threaded rod 28 and its lowerend bevelled as at 32 in parallelism with the upper end 30 of the screwthreaded rod 28. In this manner, the exact position of the sparking face32 may be determined externally of the internal combustion enginecylinder by examining the position or location of the bevelled upperedge or surface 30. This will prevent the pointed end of the contactface 32 from becoming directly presented to the cone-shaped contactmember l4 and will prevent the resultant wearing away of the face due toarcing and pitting.

When it is desired to adjust the spraking gap between the mechanical gapmember l4 and the gapping face 32, a screw driver or the like may beinserted in the kerf 29 and the screw threaded rod 28 rotated until theexact spark desired is obtained. The rod 28 may be rotated so that theupper end surface 30 may at all times be located as shown in Figure 2.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas claimed.

I claim:

1. A sparking device for internal combustion engines comprising avertical electrode, means for insulating the vertical electrode from theground connection, a conical contact element secured to the lower end ofthe vertical electrode, an adjustable electrode presented at an obliqueangle to the conical gapping surface of the vertical electrode, andmeans for indicating the position of the adjustable electrode.

2. An ignition device for internal combustion engines comprising avertical electrode, means for insulating the vertical electrode fromground connection, a conical sparking element secured to the lower endof the vertical electrode, an adjustable electrode presented to thefirst mentioned electrode at an oblique angle and means for determiningthe position of the second electrode with respect to the verticalelectrode.

3. In combination with the engine head of an internal combustion enginehaving an opening with an insulator block detachably mounted within theopening, a vertical electrode mounted in the insulator block having aconical sparking surface and an adjustable electrode threaded in theengine cylinder head at an oblique angle with respect to the firstmentioned electrode.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine head having anopening formed therein, of an insulator block mounted in said opening ina detachable fashion, a vertical electrode mounted within the insulatorblock, a conical sparking surface formed on the lower end of theelectrode, an adjustable electrode presented to the first mentionedelectrode at an oblique angle and threaded in a bore formed in theengine cylinder head and means for determining the position of theadjustable electrode with respect to the conical sparking surface of thefirst mentioned electrode.

5. In combination with an engine cylinder head having an openingtherein, of an insulator block located within said opening, a verticalelectrode mounted in the insulator block, a conical sparking surfaceformed on the lower end of the electrode, an externally threaded nutmounted in the opening in the cylinder head for locking the insulatorplug in place, an adjustable electrode threaded in a bore formed in anoblique opening in the cylinder head in such a manner. that the free endof the adjustable electrode will be presented to the conical sparkingsurface of the vertical electrode and means on the adjustable electrodefor determining the position of the adjustable electrode sparkingsurface.

EUGENE C. WAMELINK.

